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AgriLife extension agent Johanna Hicks rewards particpant Diego Childs for his 407 miles walked during the eight-week Walk and Talk program. Staff photo by Todd Kleiboer
Extension
This past week, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension wrapped up their eight-week Walk and Talk program, which provides health and wellness opportunities while addressing nutrition and exercise.
Walk and Talk is available yearly as a program for schools and any other interested organizations, according to AgriLife county coordinator Johnanna Hicks.
“Walk & Talk is a spin-off of Extension’s Walk Across Texas but includes a face-to-face nutrition program, cooking demonstration or hands-on activity, followed by walking together as a group,” Hicks said.
According to AgriLife, the goal of the program is to encourage individuals to make a daily habit of regular physical activity. The ultimate goal of the Walk and Talk is to log 833 miles of walking exercise over eight weeks, which is the approximate distance from Beaumont to El Paso – thus the name “Walk Across Texas.”
The Hopkins County program had 15 individual participants, with 13 completing six or more sessions.
The group included all age ranges from children, mothers with their children in strollers and grandparents. One family even included three generations of participants, according to Hicks.
The nutritional component of the sessions included topics such as MyPlate, fruits and vegetables, food safety, label reading, grains and more. Those who attended the program were given prizes that included measuring cups, cutting boards, cool towels, can openers, veggie peelers, sandwich pouches and MyPlate booklets.
Overall, the group logged a total of 2,909 miles, more than doubling the 833-mile goal, Hicks said.
One young man who went the distance was 4-H member Diego Childs with 407 miles. Parent Rosario Gonzalez logged 383 miles.
Other top walkers included Rosia Childs, Peggy Childs, Erika Valdez, Norma Castillo and Pat Connally, all logging over 210 miles each.
A mother/daughter duo included Valarie Corley and Leticia Burnside, with baby Burnside in a stroller. Alysha Ansley, Apolonia Lobatos and Head Start staff Rita Taylor and Loida Pacheco all contributed total miles.
Many participants expressed an interest in continuing to walk on a regular basis, according to Hicks. Hicks specifically expressed thanks to Jody Pair for use of The ROC during the sessions.
For more information, contact Hicks at the Hopkins County Extension Office, 903-885-3443.